For those of you fans who may not be familiar with Jake Shields, he doesn’t just sound like a superhero … he fights like one. Shields has been the Shooto Middleweight champion, Rumble on the Rock 175lb. champion, was the only Welterweight (185lbs) title holder when EliteXC ended its run, and currently holds the Strikeforce Middleweight (170lbs) Championship. Shields is currently flying high on a 13-fight win streak, and he will be defending his Strikeforce title against former Pride Welterweight and Middleweight champion Dan Henderson live on CBS in April. Enjoy our Fight Pastor exclusive with Jake Shields.

FightPastor.com: Jake, thanks for taking time out of what is an incredibly busy schedule to have this interview with us.

Jake Shields: Glad to do it.

FP.com: I read on your Twitter that you were getting in a box with a bunch of poisonous snakes for Animal Planet?  Someone put you up to that as a joke, right?

Jake: No, I really went into a box full of snakes.  Someone had asked me to do it for Animal Planet.  I think it airs on Feb 9, at 5 pm and 8 pm. It’s called “Venom in Vegas” It was interesting!

FP.com: Let’s get the big question out of the way.  You’re an assistant coach to Chuck Liddell on “The Ultimate Fighter” Season 11 this year, while you’re the reigning Strikeforce Middleweight Champion.  How did this come about?  Normally the UFC isn’t keen on acknowledging the competition.

Jake: I’ve been friends with Chuck since 1999.  He was my first trainer and how I got into MMA.  He asked me about helping coach and I’m always ready to help Chuck.

FP.com: You’ll be fighting former Pride and UFC champion Dan Henderson while TUF 11 is on the air.  How are you splitting your time between the two opportunities?

Jake: The fight with Henderson isn’t finalized yet, but will probably happen.  It’d be sometime end of April.  I’m actually getting some good training in here in Vegas.  There’s some good people to train with.

FP.com: Not to look past the Henderson fight, but do you see this opening any doors with the UFC?  Critics have you pegged as a guy that could potentially end the reigns of UFC Middleweight Champion Anderson Silva or UFC Welterweight Champion Georges St. Pierre.  You’ve beaten a lot of talented and rising UFC contenders, including submitting Paul “Semtex” Daley.  You’ve even said yourself that you think you’re one of the best.  Can you prove that without a run in the UFC?

Jake: Right now I’m taking it a fight at a time.  Strikeforce has been treating me well.  They’ve been giving me good opponents, and opportunities and they’re building their roster.  Of course it’d be exciting to face Silva and GSP.  We’ll just have to see what happens.

FP.com: At UFC 105, St. Pierre said while your jiu-jitsu is superior, he thinks he can beat you in an MMA fight.  How would you see that potential match-up going down?

Jake: GSP is really well rounded but I think my jiu jitsu would win it.  It’d be an exciting, tough fight.

FP.com: Are you getting more comfortable at 185lbs, or do you still prefer fighting at 170lbs.?  You’ve had a lot of success in both weight classes, holding the EliteXC welterweight belt as well as the Strikeforce middleweight title.

Jake: Definitely feeling stronger at 185, though 170 is still my natural weight.  Right now I think I can fight at both weights.

FP.com: I’ve read that you’re a life-long vegetarian.  Is it harder for you to put on the weight to get to 185 on that diet?  Tell us a little about how you train for a fight and how your diet factors into it.

Jake: I don’t think the diet affects my putting on the weight.  Putting on usable muscle takes a little time whether you eat meat or not. I use protein powders, creatine and other supplements and am doing a lot of strength training and eating more meals.  I train hard all the time and a lot harder before fights.  My diet works for me.  I’ve been eating a healthy diet all my life and I’m strong and healthy.

FP.com: You’ve got a beautiful daughter. If you don’t mind me asking, how does she handle what Daddy does for a living?  Does she travel with you when you’re training?  Does she watch your fights?

Jake: It’s all just normal to her, she doesn’t think much about it.  She doesn’t really travel with me when I train, though she sometimes goes to my gym when I’m working out.  I haven’t had her at any of my fights, but she watches them afterwards.

FP.com: There’s been some discussion amongst the hardcore fans who are yearning to see a return of the tournament-format that the UFC was founded on.  You’ve done well in tournaments before, and won the Welterweight tournament at Rumble on the Rock.  How would you feel about participating in a UFC tournament event?

Jake: Tournaments can be really tough.  When I’m asked what was my toughest fight, fighting two fights in one night at the Rumble on the Rock Tournament always comes to mind.  But their exciting to the fans.

FP.com: How can your fans find out what you’re up to?

Jake: Check out my new website, www.jakeshields.com,  and you will find links my Facebook and Twitter.

FP.com: Thanks again for talking with us, Jake, and we wish you all the best against Henderson this April!

Jake: Thanks to all the fans and to my sponsors, Tapout, Tapout Sports Nutrition and Rockstar.

Check back at www.fightpastor.com often for my one on one’s with your favorite fighters!